(JACKSON COUNTY) - The murder trial of 23-year-old John Shoultz III, of Crothersville, has been continued.

His trial was to begin this week in Jackson Circuit Court.

Shoultz is accused of murdering his father in May 2009.

His trial was continued because his attorneys, Ethan G. Bartanen and Alice Bartanen Blevins, had a death in the family. His new trial will be June 4.

According to police reports, Shoultz shot and killed his father after the two got into a fight over a dog. Police say the younger Shoultz taped together the legs of a Chihuahua that his mother had just received.

His father became angry and entered his son's room with a straight razor in one hand and the dog in the other.

John told police that he fired one shot in the ceiling before firing three shots at his father.

He told police he shot his father in self-defense. John says he believes his father was going to attack him and his girlfriend, who was also in the room, with the straight razor.

An autopsy report says the father was shot four times with a .40-caliber handgun. He was shot twice in the chest, once in the stomach and once in the right hand.